Delayed occurrence of spinal arachnoiditis following a caudal block

Abstract

Context

Spinal arachnoiditis is a rare disease caused by fibrosis and adhesion of the arachnoid membrane due to chronic inflammation. The causes of arachnoiditis are infection, spinal surgery, intraspinal injection of steroid or myelography dye, and spinal anesthesia.

Method

Case report.

Findings

A 60-year-old woman presented with progressive weakness and sensory change of both legs and urinary symptoms. She had received a single caudal block 6 months before symptom onset. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoraco-lumbar spine showed an intradural extramedullary tumor at the T5–T7 level. She underwent laminectomy and tumor resection. The pathological finding was arachnoiditis. After surgery, a rehabilitation program of strengthening exercises of both lower extremities and gait training was started. At 2-month follow-up, she was able to walk with orthoses and performed daily activities with minimal assistance.

Conclusion

Symptoms of spinal arachnoiditis occurred 6 months after a single caudal block in this woman. Clinicians should be aware of this possible delayed complication.     

Ultrasound-guided interventional procedures for cervical pain

Ultrasound is a particularly valuable imaging technique when performing nerve blocks at the cervical level. High-frequency probes provide high-quality resolution and are safe in skilled hands. Typically, interventions performed at the cervical level have been carried out with the help of x-rays, with the corresponding disadvantages such as the exposure to radiation and the inherent inability to observe radiotransparent structures such as blood vessels and nerves. Ultrasound allows us to visualize soft tissues and guide the tip of the needle to our target, without harming particularly delicate structures found in the path of the needle. This is important in nerve root blocks where the identification of periradicular nerves is crucial for the safety of the block itself. Likewise, ultrasound allows us to manipulate the needle with greater precision in the correct location; as is the case in cervical sympathetic nerve block where we can observe the injection of the liquid behind the prevertebral fascia and in front of the fascia of the longus colli muscle. In this article, we describe the most frequent techniques used in the pain clinic to treat headache and cervical pain, with special emphasis on the safety of the procedure.     

注水分离腹膜法在腹腔镜小儿疝手术中的应用

目的探讨注水分离腹膜法在腹腔镜小儿腹股沟斜疝高位结扎术中的价值。方法选取确诊为腹股沟斜疝的男性患儿56例,应用注水分离腹膜法进行腹腔镜手术。结果56例均顺利完成手术,平均手术时间11min,平均出血量少于1ml,无腹内脏器损伤、阴囊血肿、输精管或精索损伤等并发症发生。结论应用注水分离腹膜法,使得腹腔镜小儿疝手术相对简化,提高了手术安全性,得值推广应用。     

Comparison of carpal tunnel injection techniques: A cadaver study

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of injections into the carpal tunnel using three different portals in cadavers, and to define safe guidelines. In this study, 150 wrists of 75 cadavers (54 male, 21 female) were included. To compare three injection sites, 50 wrists of 25 cadavers were used for each technique; we used 23 gauge needles, and acrylic dye. The first injection technique: the needle was inserted 1cm proximal to the wrist crease and directed distally by roughly 45 in an ulnar direction through the flexor carpi radialis tendon. The second injection technique: the needle was inserted into the carpal tunnel from a point just ulnar to the palmaris longus tendon and 1cm proximal to the wrist crease. The third injection technique: the needle was inserted just distal to the distal skin crease of the wrist in line with the fourth ray. The first injection technique gave the highest accuracy rate, and this was also the safest injection site. Median nerve injuries caused by injection was seen mostly with the second technique. Although a steroid injection may provide symptomatic relief in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve and other structures in the carpal tunnel are at risk of injury. Because of that, the injection should be given using the correct technique by physicians skilled in carpal tunnel surgery.     

Cost analysis of risperidone long-acting injection in the treatment of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders in Hong Kong: An approach using generalised estimating equations

Schizophrenia is one of the most expensive psychiatric illnesses. This study compared retrospectively health-care resources consumed 12 months before and 24 months after risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) treatment in Hong Kong. A mirror-image analysis was conducted using data (N=191) from three public hospitals in Hong Kong from 2003 to 2007. The main outcome measure was hospitalisation cost. Other secondary outcomes such as hospitalisation episodes, outpatient visits and adverse events were also compared. A predictive model was established using linear regression based on generalised estimating equations. Analysis showed that RLAI was associated with a reduction in hospitalisation cost by HK$10,001,390 (24.7%) (HK$40,418,694 vs. HK$30,417,303; P-value <0.05). Days of hospitalisation were reduced by 1538 days (10.1%) (15,271 vs. 13,733; P-value <0.05). The predictive model estimated that the hospitalisation cost of patients using RLAI was only 11.1% (3.1–3.93%, 95% confidence interval (CI)) compared to those receiving conventional antipsychotics combined with oral risperidone. Cost of hospitalisation was significantly reduced after RLAI therapy. However, results should be considered as indicative or suggestive only, due to potential channelling bias where certain drug regimens are preferentially prescribed to patients with particular conditions. The findings from our study may be useful in health-care decision making considering treatment options for schizophrenia in resource-limited settings.     

Endoscopic evacuation of cerebellar hematoma in a term newborn

Intracerebellar hemorrhage is very rare in term infants and only severe cases with massive intracranial hemorrhage, posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus and clinical deterioration due to increased intracranial pressure require neurosurgical evacuation. In recent adult studies endoscopic hematoma evacuation has been shown as a rapid, effective, and safe technique. A term newborn hospitalized for meconium aspiration syndrome showed hypertonia, jitteriness and abnormal amplitude integrated electroencephalogram findings. He was diagnosed with cerebellar hematoma which caused hydrocephalus by cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The hematoma was successfully evacuated neuroendoscopically as the first case in literature to our knowledge. Neurologic, a-EEG and MRI findings resolved.     

Oral vascular malformation in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: a case report

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an inherited mucocutaneous disease characterized by recurrent epistaxis, lesions on skin and oral mucosa, and arteriovenous malformations of the soft tissues. This article describes the treatment of a 64-year-old woman with a bleeding nodule, which was diagnosed as an arteriovenous malformation of the gingival mucosa. She was treated using sclerotherapy. Patients with HHT can be treated in the dental office and vascular malformations of these patients can be successfully managed with sclerotherapy, which eliminates the need for invasive surgical procedures and the possibility of postsurgical complications.     

部分脾动脉栓塞术联合内镜治疗门脉高压症合并中重度食管胃静脉曲张破裂出血的疗效分析

目的　研究内镜下食管静脉曲张套扎术（EVL）、胃静脉曲张硬化术（GVS）联合部分脾动脉栓塞术（PSE）对门脉高压症（PH）合并中重度食管胃静脉曲张（EGV）破裂出血的疗效、安全性及经济性。方法　纳入92例有明确EGV出血的肝硬化PH的住院患者。43例接受EVL/GVS联合PSE治疗为观察组,49例患者接受EVL/GVS治疗为对照组。比较2组患者中重度EGV的根治率、复发率、再出血率、住院天数、安全性及住院总费用。结果　观察组、对照组第1、3个月在EGV根治率、复发率、再出血率方面差异均无统计学意义（均P＞0.05）。第6、12个月观察组EGV根治率显著高于对照组（均P＜0.05）,复发率和再出血率显著低于对照组（均P＜0.05）,观察组住院总费用（万元：8.97 vs. 13.77）、住院总天数（d：27.0 vs. 43.0）显著低于对照组（均P＜0.01）。PSE常见并发症为发热、腹痛、腹腔积液、腹腔感染,严重并发症为脾脓肿。结论　内镜套扎、硬化联合部分脾动脉栓塞术治疗门脉高压症合并中重度EGV破裂出血中长期疗效与单纯内镜套扎、硬化术相比有较高的根治率,较低的复发率、再出血率、住院总费用及住院总天数。PSE并发症可控。